The Senate yesterday explained that the vehicles to be purchased were meant for the execution of committee assignments. In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the vehicles were part of the necessities which the institution usually provided to committees to enable them carry out their functions, without depending on external bodies for effective performance of oversight functions. Abdullahi was silent on the cost of the contract. “The vehicles are not meant for individual senators.
They are purchased for the use of the committees. “For those who may want to find out what happened to the ones bought in the past, we cannot expect that after four years, the vehicles will still be in the condition to effectively serve the present committees.
The best practice in government institutions and even private organisations is for official vehicles allocated to top officials after four years of use to be sold at the depreciated value,” Abdullahi stated. “We have been very frugal, responsive and responsible in our spending. We have also cut down on several expenses. However, there are certain expenses and purchases that are normal in government and any organisation generally.
The legislature is not an exception. “With respect to the official vehicles of the Senate President, it should be noted that majority of the vehicles in his convoy are his personal vehicles while some of the vehicles that he inherited, including his official vehicles and the back-up car, are so old that they are already developing faults and not fit for long journey. “We can recall that on several occasions, his official car broke down. Three instances will suffice here. I remember on a visit to Nasarawa State for a wedding of the daughter of a colleague. Other occasions were at the National Mosque three weeks ago and at the Abuja airport.
“The implication is that the vehicles in his official convoy are so old that they are already causing embarrassment for the Senate. The media should know that a man of his antecedent will not at this point be excited with purchase of new cars. His official cars are really long overdue for replacement.
“The media should avoid deliberately portraying the legislature as irresponsible and inciting the people against it. We seek the understanding of the media to explain issues and situations to the people. Both the media and the legislature have different roles to play in sustaining our democracy and none should be seen to be undermining the other,” Abdullahi stated.
The bureaucracy of the parliament had recently placed advertisements in selected newspapers soliciting bids from vendors willing to undertake the car purchase contract. Although the advertisements did not state specifically what brand of cars are to be bought, it was learnt that a total of 120 vehicles might be bought.
An online media platform, Premium Times, which claimed to have sighted the contract documents stated that Senate would be requesting the vendors to supply 120 units of Toyota Land Cruiser, 2016 model. The vehicles, according to the online platform, must be “American Brand, V8, VXR, 5.7, Auto Engine with intelligence, integrated navigator cruise control, QI-Compatible wireless charging and Kinetic dynamic suspension system, as well as being “full option.”
The Senate is said to have also placed an order for the purchase of vehicles for the use of the Senate President’s convoy to replace the existing fleet inherited from his predecessor. Meanwhile, the proposed car purchase contract has generated a lot of comments from a broad spectrum of the society with some describing it as violation of the monetisation policy. Our correspondent also learnt that the leadership of the Upper Chamber recently refused to approve a request by some committee chairmen to change their Prado Jeeps already ordered for each of the 109 senators to brand new Land Cruiser Jeeps.
It was further gathered that even before the inauguration of the 65 Senate Standing Committees, the leadership of the Senate had ordered for the purchase of Prado jeeps at a cost of N16 million each. However, a Senator, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said that the purchase of new vehicles for new set of lawmakers every four years is conventional.
He said: “If you are used to the operations of the National Assembly, you will discover that, every four years, the lawmakers both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, go with their vehicles because they usually pay for the vehicles. “Then, the incoming lawmakers will be provided with their own operational vehicles to enable them carry out their functions smoothly. But this is not free of charge. Certain deductions are made from their salaries, so that as they are serving out their tenure, they go with the cars, and it continues like that. So, there is nothing wrong with that.”